Tarot Cards - THE MAJOR ARCANA

Question 1

0-The Fool
The Fool (Le Mat)
The Spirit of the Aether

Answer 1

Upright - Beginnings, most probably of journeys which may be possibly mental, physical or spiritual. The beginning of a new life-cycle. Energy, force, happiness and optimism. The overturning of the status quo or existing states by unexpected happenings. Innocence, naivety, and spontaneity. Important decisions to be made.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Ill advised risks, impulsive action, choices and rash decisions. Foolishness, gambling, instability and the wasting or frittering way of creative energy. A bad time for commitments and can be an indication of someone who starts many new things but never finishes them. They may also consistently seek changes in their environment or job.

Question 2

1-The Magician
The Magician (Le Bateleur)
The Magnus of Power

Answer 2

Upright - Mastery of the material world, creative action, self discipline and a willingness to take risks. An ability to recognise one’s own potential, the power to initiate, communication and wit.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Confusion, hesitation, inability to make decisive choices. Inability to properly utilise time or talents. Lack of inspiration or energy. Giving up easily, poor self image, poor co-ordination and sometimes learning difficulties.

Question 3

2-The High Priestess or Papess
The High Priestess or Papess (La Papess)
The Priestess of the Silver Star

Answer 3

Upright - Intuition, wisdom and secret knowledge, the feminine side of the male personality. Something remains yet to be revealed, but patience must be observed. Duality and mystery. Hidden influences affect both home and work and intuitive insight suggests new solutions. The influence of women.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Lack of personal harmony and problems resulting from a lack of foresight. Suppression of the feminine or intuitive side of the personality. Facile and surface knowledge. repression and ignorance of true facts and feelings. In women, an inability to come to terms with other women or themselves. Things and circumstances are not what they seem.

Question 4

3-The Empress
The Empress (L’Imperatrice)
The Daughter of the Mighty Ones

Answer 4

Upright - The promotion of well-being and security. Creativeness in financial affairs, love and parenthood. Maternal care, domestic stability, abundance and material wealth. Fertility, security, achievement of goals and growth. Depending on surrounding cards - sometimes marriage and pregnancy.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Possible domestic problems, financial difficulties, lack of affection and achievement. Creative blocks and possible problems with a relationship. Infertility, sterility or promiscuity and/or unwanted pregnancy. Poverty.

Question 5

4-The Emperor
The Emperor (L’Empereur)
Son of Morning: Chief Among the Mighty

Answer 5

Upright - Competitiveness, forcefulness in development and execution. Authority, structure, governmental and corporate identities. Worldly power, self control gained through experience. Ability to shoulder responsibility. Powerful individuals, ambition together with the possibility of long term achievement.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Loss or dislike of authority, corporate governmental or parental. Immaturity and indecision. Weakness, manipulative friends or colleagues.

Question 6

5-The Pope or Hierophant
The Pope (Le Pape)
The Magnus of the Eternal

Answer 6

Upright - Ritual and routine, religious guidance and authority, education in its formal sense. A seeker after knowledge and wisdom. Good sound advice, teaching and constructive counsel. Marriage, partnerships and morality.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Misleading or dubious advice, poor counsel, slander and propaganda. Beware of first impressions. Distortion of truth and a bad time for signing agreements. Misleading advertisements. Unconventionality and rejection of family values.

Question 7

6-The Lovers
The Lovers (L’Amoureux)
The Children of the Voice; The Oracle of the Mighty Gods

Answer 7

Upright - Harmony and union, choices to be made using intuition and not intellect. Difficult decisions to be made not necessarily about love. Some form of test and consideration about commitments. Abstract thought, internal harmony and union, second sight. Possibly a struggle between two paths.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Contradiction, deception, disharmony, duality and one’s own internal conflict. Infidelity, and romantic disturbances. Indecisiveness, postponing choices and a warning not to make important decisions at this time.

Question 8

7-The Chariot

The Child of the Powers of the Waters; The Lord of the Triumph of Light

Answer 8

Upright - Triumph over adversity, overcoming life’s obstacles, decisiveness and ambition in achieving one’s goals, well deserved victory. A period of struggle ending in worldly success. Self control, effort, perseverance. Working within the boundaries of one’s life to build up a successful existence.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - A disregard for others, envy, avarice. Loss of control and chaos in one’s personal life possibly due to personal flaws. Imbalance. Destruction. A warning against overwhelming ambition and high expectations. The continuation of outdated ideas and traditions.

Question 9

8-Strength or Fortitude
Strength (La Force)
The Daughter of the Flaming Sword

Answer 9

Upright - Courage. Self control. The virtue of Fortitude. The power of love. Control of passion against one’s baser instincts. Determination. Generosity. Strength and power under control. Energy. Optimism. Generosity, resolve and reconciliation.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Power wrongly used. Defeat. Lack of willpower. Feelings of inadequacy. Pessimism. Surrender to unworthy impulses. Tyranny. Concession. Inability to act.

Question 10

9-The Hermit
The Hermit (L’hermite)
The Prophet of the Eternal; the Magnus of the voice of Power

Answer 10

Upright - Caution. Discretion. Need for prudence. Counsel sought and taken. Inner calm. A need to reach into one’s inner resources. Assimilation. Planning. A wise guide or spiritual mentor. A time to stand back and reflect upon circumstances

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Refusal of counsel or assistance. immaturity. Isolation from others. A negative resistance towards help. Groundless suspicions about the motives of others. Imprudent actions or decisions. The continuation of bad habits or unproductive lifestyles. Foolish obstinacy. The reliance on one’s own resources that are inadequate.

Question 11

10-The Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (La Roue de Fortune)
The Lord of the Forces of Life

Answer 11

Upright - Effortless success. Good fortune that is unexpected. Coincidences. Luck. The beginning of a new cycle. Advancement. Positive upheaval. Change. A card of good fortune, the appearance of destiny and Karmic change.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Bad luck that is unexpected. Resistance to change. Unexpected interruptions. A warning against gambling. Difficulties. Delays.

Question 12

11-Justice
Justice (La Justice)
The Daughter of the Lords of Truth; The Ruler of the Balance

Answer 12

Upright - Amicable and favourable resolution of conflicts. Triumph over bigotry and prejudice. Legal action. Litigation. Contracts. Settlement. Divorce. Sometimes marriage depending upon the other cards and normally only when marriage contracts, legal or financial documents are a necessary part of the intended union. Clarity. Fairness. Arbitration. A straightforward choice. Judgement.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Injustice. Inequality and bias. Separations not yet ratified or legalised. Delay. imbalance. Confusion surrounding legal or tax affairs. Complicate negotiations. unfair or delayed judgement.

Question 13

12-The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man (Le Pendu)
The Spirit of the Mighty Waters

Answer 13

Upright - Devotion to a worthwhile cause. Temporary suspension of progress. Flexibility of mind and a willingness to adapt to changes. Sacrifice in the present to reap benefit in the future. A waiting period. Rebirth. Sacrificing one thing to obtain another. Transformation. Circumstances literally turned on their head.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Loss. Lack of commitment. Preoccupation with selfish and material things. Despite drawbacks a preference for the status quo. Oppression. Apathy in pursuit of goals. Taking the view ‘Better the devil you know’. Failure to act with an inability to move forward or progress.

Question 14

13-Death
Death (La Mort)
The Child of the Great Transformers; The Lord of the Gate of Death

Answer 14

Upright - The beginning of a new life. As a result of underlying circumstances transformation and change. Major changes. The end of a phase in life which has served its purpose. Abrupt and complete change of circumstances, way of life and patterns of behaviour due to past events and actions. Alterations.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Change that is both painful and unpleasant. A refusal to face the fear of change or change itself. Agonising periods of transition. Inertia. Lethargy. Mental, physical or emotional exhaustion.

Question 15

14-Temperance
Temperance (Temperance)
The Daughter of the Reconcilers; The Bringer Forth of Life

Answer 15

Upright - Combination. Co-operation. Co-ordination. Innovation through combination. Diplomacy. Successful Negotiations. Maturity in dealing with certain matters. A placid, balanced temperament and good outlook. Meaning literally, temperance in the sense of harmony and balance. good management. An ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Imbalance. Volatility. Poor judgement. fickle decisions. Conflicting interests. Physical stress. Disagreements. Restlessness and instability. trying to combine too many or the wrong elements in too short an expanse of time.

Question 16

15-The Devil
The Devil (Le Diable)
The Lord of the Gates of Matter; The Child of the Forces of Time

Answer 16

Upright - Money matters. Feeling the burden of the material side of life. Desire for physical and material things. Feeling of frustration and oppression. A tendency to collect and hoard money and material objects. Lust. Sexual obsession. The querent’s knowledge of his or her own needs, wants and desires. Security versus creative or spiritual fulfillment.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - True evil. Abuse of authority. Material success is the focus to the exclusion of all other things. Uncontrolled ambition. Greed. Bondage to a person or situation or thing. Emotional blackmail. More severe forms of the above. True evil.

Question 17

16-The Tower
The Tower (La Maison Dieu)
The Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty

Answer 17

Upright - Disruption. Conflict. Change. Sudden violent loss. Overthrow of an existing way of life. Major changes. Disruption of well worn routines. Ruin and disturbance. Dramatic upheaval. change of residence or job sometimes both at once. Widespread repercussions of actions. In the end, enlightenment and freedom.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Negativity. Restriction of desires and imprisonment. Less sever forms of the above. Drastic change that may rob the individual of freedom of expression. Sometimes bankruptcy and imprisonment. more usually imprisonment within a set of circumstances which cannot currently be altered. Sudden changes out of one’s control. Less sever forms of the above.

Question 18

17-The Star
The Star (L’Etoile)
The Daughter of the Firmament; The Dweller Between the Waters

Answer 18

Upright - Fresh hope and renewal. Healing of old wounds. Hope. renewal of faith and hope. Spiritual love. A mental and physical broadening of horizons. Promise and fulfillment. inspiration. Influence over others. Vigour and confidence. Protection.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Self doubt. Stubbornness. Unwillingness or inability to adapt to changing circumstances and accept the opportunities it may bring. Lack of trust and self-doubt. Obstacles to happiness. Diminished life. Inability to freely express oneself. Rigidity of mind.

Question 19

18-The Moon
The Moon (La Lune)
The ruler of the Flux & Reflux; The Child of the Sons of the Mighty

Answer 19

Upright - Imagination. Dreams and psychic impressions. Sometimes psychic work. Illusions. Inability to see things clearly sometimes resulting in personal depression. Sometimes signifies fiction writing or acting, particularly work in the entertainment industry. Losing control of one’s daily life. The unconscious mind.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Exaggerated forms of the above. The need for secrecy. Deception. Illusion. Escape into daydreams to avoid dealing with reality. Inability to discern reality from illusion. Insincere people. Hidden forces. Trickery. Sometimes an inability to tell the truth. Despair and a desperate need for help.

Question 20

19-The Sun
The Sun (Le Soleil)
The Lord of the fire of the World

Answer 20

Upright - Contentment and happiness on attaining success. Good Health. Material happiness. Mental, physical and spiritual vitality. New inventors or inventions. Academic and particularly scientific success. Reward. Acclaim. Approval. Children. Abundance of energy. Achievement. Joy and happiness.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Troubled partnerships and marriages. Diminished forms of the above. Broken engagements and contracts. Sometimes, autism, learning disabilities or allergies. Hyperactivity. Failure. Arrogance. Relationship difficulties. Vanity. Hypersensitivity. Misjudgement. Delayed Happiness.

Question 21

20-Judgement
Judgement (Le Judgement)
The Spirit of the Primal Fire

Answer 21

Upright - Changes and improvements. Satisfactory outcome to a specific matter or period of life. Joy in accomplishment. Awakening. Rebirth. A good time for career moves. renewed, health, vitality and mental clarity. Sometimes indicates important pending decisions that will change the pattern of life for the better.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Stagnation. Delay in concluding a series of actions. Fear of change and sometimes fear of death. Lack of progress due to lack of important decision making. Loss and separation, not necessarily permanent. Guilt.

Question 22

21-The World
The World (Le Monde)
The Great One of the Night of Time

Answer 22

Upright - Accomplishment. Fulfillment. Completion of a personal cycle, project, series of events or chapter in life. Success. A culmination of events. A sense of repleteness.

Ill Dignified or Reversed - Frustration. Completion delayed. Sometimes fear of change. Inability to bring something to a satisfactory end. resistance to change. Lack of trust. Despite appearances to the contrary, an indication that events have not yet come to a conclusion but are nearing completion. Hesitation.